It's smaller than the size of my palm, which is very small. I found it all alone, and I searched for a mama cat or other kittens and couldn't find any. It's eyes are really gunky, and it's absolutely terrified. I can't get it to drink or eat anything, and the vets in town are closed for Memorial Day. What should I do?
2007-05-28 04:01:10 · 15 answers · asked by ukesruletheworld 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Call your local humane society. If your town doesn't have one, call the local vet. And do it quickly!
2007-05-28 04:05:05 · answer #1 · answered by Julie F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
- wipe it's eyes and nose with a lightly dampened washcloth. You need to keep the gunk away.
-you need to get ahold of some kitten replacement formula. Check Petsmart / Petco or whatever petstore is closest. You'll also need a feeding syringe. If you can't find one at a petstore, go to a pharmacy and ask for a medication syringe, that will work too.
-warm the formula very slightly and put a teaspoon or so into the syringe. Don't overfeed the kitten, it has a small stomach.
-hold the kitten so it's basically vertical, head up. Push the syringe into the corner of it's mouth and squeeze a little. Give it time to swallow. If it swallows and licks it's lips, keep going. If it drools the milk back out or coughs, stop. That means it's too weak or congested to drink and you'll only make it worse by trying. As long as it swallows and breathes clearly, you can finish the feeding. You'll need to repeat it every 2-3 hours. If the kitten goes too long without eating it becomes dehydrated and lethargic.
-this part sounds gross, but very young kittens cannot urinate or defecate on their own. You need to wet a washcloth with warmish water and gently massage it's bottom and belly. The mother cats licks her kittens to encourage them to eliminate. If you don't replicate that action, the kitten could become constipated.
-Lastly, keep the kitten warm. Put towels in the dryer, find a hot water bottle, put an electric blanket on low, whatever you can find, just make sure the kitten stays warm.
These are just emergency measures, you still need to get the cat to a vet ASAP. If you have any more questions you can email me.
2007-05-28 04:33:36 · answer #2 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to your local store and look for formula that is just for newborn kittens. It comes with a small bottle and it says on the box how much to feed it. If it is smaller than your hand then no it will not eat or drink from a bowl if that is what you are trying to do. It's only old enough to nurse from the mother. But since the mother isn't present you will have to go buy a bottle especially for it. Look in the pet care aisle. Sometimes they only want the mother so if it doesn't drink from your bottle, take it to the vet tomorrow.
As for besides feeding it, keep it away from children and don't pick it up too much. It takes about a month for their eyes to open so don't worry about it's eyes. They will open when they are good and ready. That goo is to protect kittens' eyes from anything around them that has a chance of getting into them. It's good for them. Keep it warm and put it in a basket with clean blankets and keep a close eye on it. Make sure CLEAN blankets. When it starts crying loudly then that' when you should pick it up and hold it close until it stops, or feed it. Be very careful because newborn kittens are VERY delicate.
2007-05-28 04:25:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any pet store should be able to help you. Pet smart usually has very knowledgeable employees. You will need a bottle the right size for the kitten and kitten milk. Also they have to be massaged to be able to go to the bathroom - I promise that isn't a big deal, you just have to use a warm, soft wash cloth. The eyes could just be gunky because mama cat hasn't been around to keep them clean. At least one local vet should have an emergency number - or the humane shelter in your area should be able to tell you what to do.
Good luck with the kitty! It's lucky the person that found it cares enough to want to take care if it - if you keep it, that cat should be a friend for life.
2007-05-28 04:13:20 · answer #4 · answered by andijxo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most animal hospitals should be open, also the local animal shelter or animal control should be open. It sounds like the mother possibly left the kitten to die--knowing the animal is sick. Try gently wiping the eyes with a warm, damp, soft cloth to remove some of the "gunk" and try to feed it the canned milk for kittens found in most pet supply stores and some other retail grocery stores. You can also purchase the feeding bottles there.
Make sure to clean the kitten's backside by gently, but firmly wiping the area with a clean, damp cloth. Little babies need the stimulation to be able to go to the bathroom.
If the kitten still will not take the bottle after trying to feed for a few hours, I would take it to the hospital.
2007-05-28 04:12:23 · answer #5 · answered by pharmtech1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By law your vet needs to have an emergency hospital to cover for him. There should be a phone number in your area. Gunky eyes indicate a possible respiratory infection. You need to get some kitten milk replacer and hand feed it, and the emergency hospital can help you. Maybe there is a pet store with knowledgeable employees that could help until tomorrow? The kitten will need deworming and most likely antibiotics. Good luck.
2007-05-28 04:05:06 · answer #6 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh no!!! my kitten had the same gunk in its eyes. dont let it around other cats, it may have feline flu. if its that small, you need to be around it all day today till you can get it to a vet. she may have fleas and ear mites, be careful if you have other animals. If you dont have a baby bottle, but some lactaid milk on the end of your finger and let it suck it off. It doesnt know how to feed itself yet. You may have to force food in. It probably is not litter trained either, so keep her in a place that she can soil. Put some litter in that area and when she does go, put her into the litter. Just wipe the gunk out of her eyes with a warm washcloth, but dont smother her. if you lived in rochester ny, i would give you my kitten's meds!!!
please take care of her! take her to the vet tomorrow morning. Look in the phone book, there may be an emergency vet service you can call.
2007-05-28 04:09:12 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are much better off with the liquid formula than trying to do the powder. Be sure to check the nipple to see that it has a hole open. Most do not & you have to open one.
What you are seeing is not an eye infection but the symptoms of upper respitory infection. warm very wet cotton balls will clean the goop.
Keep it warm - doubtful it will make it. See if you can find an emergency contact for your AC or HS. probably thru 911
Who ever said vets were required by law to provide emergency services - that just plain is not true.
2007-05-28 04:17:36 · answer #8 · answered by sadiejane 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you found the runt of the litter... Keep it warm and got to the store and get an eye dropper and some kitten formula ( it is just like baby formula when a mom doesn't breat feed )
Hopefully you have a pet store near you that is open.
2007-05-28 04:06:47 · answer #9 · answered by erica s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most pet stores and pet departments carry a synthetic formulated milk-like product for kittens. They also have the tiny little bottles you can feed them with. It takes a little time and patience, but you can get them to feed this way until they are strong enough to begin eating solid food.
2007-05-28 04:05:51 · answer #10 · answered by mrkymrk64 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
young kittens cant go to the bathroom by themselves, so alteast 5 times a day you should take a paper towl and rub the kitten to stimulate it.
also kittens can't produce their own body heat. fill up some water bottles with warm water and lay the kitten next to them.
good luck!
2007-05-28 05:16:01 · answer #11 · answered by Kerry 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋